Dance and Fitness Trends

Martial arts have been around for centuries, yet they are just as popular today as ever. The various techniques which are part of aikido, karate, and tae kwon do can prove to be extremely valuable self-defense skills. Practicing martial arts is also an excellent way to stay in good physical condition. In the mood for a fast-paced workout? Kickboxing or Tae Bo may be just your thing. Tai chi, on the other hand, is known for having calming and even healing qualities. Whichever type of martial art you choose to learn, it can help you become a more disciplined and self-confident person.

This contemporary title explores line dances around the world in today s health-oriented world. The young reader is exposed to the health and fitness perspective of line dancing, and is encouraged to draw conclusions as to the appropriateness of the activity in his or her life. A variety of line dances, including the Electric Slide, the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, and the Wobble are presented, along with the history and origin of line dancing. Safety issues are presented where appropriate. Line Dances Around the World has been developed to encourage young readers to analyze the information and satisfies many of the Common Core specific goals, higher level skills, and progressive strategies for middle grade and junior high level students.

CrossFit can hurt so good. Founder Greg Glassman wouldn’t t want it any other way. It is strength and endurance training designed to push you to the limit. CrossFit makes an impact, whether you re popular Indianapolis television anchor Lauren Lowrey, CrossFit box owner Jenna Innis Tieman, or forty-something mother of four and certified CrossFit instructor Lee Stewart. The best CrossFit athletes can make a lot of money. Rich Froning has won three straight CrossFit Games competitions. The 2013 title was worth $275,000. Some people think CrossFit is the best way to get in great shape. Others think its intensity sets people up for injury or worse. One of its mascots is a muscular clown called Pukie. He’s pictured getting sick after a workout that was too intense. How good is CrossFit?

This contemporary title explores video workout trends in today s health-oriented world. The young reader is exposed to the universe of the most popular DVD and video game workouts, like P90X, Insanity, Zumba Fitness, Wii Fit Plus, Kinect Sports, and Just Dance, and is encouraged to draw conclusions as to the appropriateness of the activity in his or her life. Safety issues are presented where appropriate. Get Fit With Video Workouts has been developed to encourage teens to analyze the information and satisfies many of the Common Core specific goals, higher level skills, and progressive strategies for middle grade and junior high level students.

Yoga is a modern form of exercise that has its roots in ancient times five thousand years ago, in fact, in the Indus Valley. Today you can step into just about any fitness gym in the United States and find workout rooms filled with people doing all sorts of interesting body contortions like cobra, eagle, crow, and the ever-popular downward-facing dog. Yoga has really taken the US fitness world by storm. More than twenty million Americans say they are regular practitioners of yoga and millions more say they d like to give it a try someday. Are you one of them? There’s only one-way to find out. Flip open the pages of this book and find out if you have what it takes to be a junior yogi or yogini!

Check with your local fitness facilities, gyms, schools, churches, and YMCA to see if they offer any Zumba classes. They might even have a Zumba class just for kids, so ask. Don't forget to check your local community calendar, as well, because many cities have Zumba programs in place.

Working out and staying fit is easy when you make hip-hop dance your fitness routine. Hip-hop dance started out as b-boying, but today it’s more than backspins and six-steps; it’s a complete body workout. In addition to the physical benefits, hip-hop dance relieves stress, increases self-confidence, and provides a positive outlet for self-expression. Trends in Hip-Hop Dance takes the reader on a forty-year journey that starts with the birth of hip-hop dance in the South Bronx and continues to its present-day presence in theaters, motion pictures, and television shows. Ready to liven up your fitness routine? Try the hip-hop way!

This contemporary title explores African dance trends in today s health-oriented world. The teenage reader is exposed to the health and fitness perspective of African dance, African regional differences, dance meanings, and history, and is encouraged to draw conclusions as to the appropriateness of the activity in his or her life. Safety issues are presented where appropriate. African Dance Trends has been developed to encourage teens to analyze the information and satisfies many of the Common Core specific goals, higher level skills, and progressive strategies for middle grade and junior high level students.